Minutes
Annual
16th May 2023

Eskdale Parish Council

Draft Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council

Meeting held on Tuesday 16 May 2023 at St Bega’s Village Hall, Eskdale Green commencing at 7.30pm

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Present: Cllr R Brown (Chair), Cllr D Porter, Cllr L Hunt, Cllr M Shaftesley, Cllr I Kirkby
2 members of public
Mrs L Cooper – Clerk

All councillors present signed their Declaration of Acceptance of Office in presence of the clerk prior to the commencement of the meeting.

1/23 Election of Chair
Chair: Cllr R Brown – Proposed Cllr Porter, Seconded Cllr Kirkby
The Chair signed the acceptance of office.

2/23 Election of Vice Chair
Vice chair: Cllr M Shaftesley – Proposes Cllr Kirkby, Seconded Cllr Hunt
The Vice Chair signed the acceptance of office.

3/23 Apologies for absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Carlin (holiday), Cllr Harrington (personal) and Unitary Cllr A Pratt.

4/23 Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 10 May 2022
Minutes agreed and signed.

5/23 Appointment of Members to serve on Outside Bodies
Village Hall Committee – Cllr Shaftesley.

6/23 To resolve that the Parish Council meets the conditions under section 8(2) of the Localism Act 2011 and The Parish Councils (General Power of Competence) (Prescribed Conditions) Order 2012 and therefore may act under the General Power of Competence
Resolved to accept. Proposed by Cllr Kirkby, Seconded by Cllr Shaftesley.

There being no further business the normal meeting continued.

7/23 Exclusion of Press and Public
None.

8/23 Declarations of Interest
There were no Declarations of Interest.

9/23 To Approve the Minutes of the meetings held on 14 March 2023
The Minutes of the meeting of the meeting held on 14 March 2023 were approved and signed by the Chair.

10/23 Police Liaison Report
A report had been previously circulated by the Clerk.

11/23 Progress Reports

11/23.1 Giggle Alley
Noted that additional felling to be undertaken.

12/23 Public Participation
Resolved to bring forward Agenda item 9.1 Application for development to allow the public to participate in the discussion.

Planning application 7/2023/40 Fairfield, Eskdale
Erection of 2 dwellings – outline approval ref 7/2020/407

Members of the public present raised the following concerns:

• Discrepancy on land ownership
• Proposed development had greater footprint than that agreed by Planning Inspectorate 9.5m x 9m compared to 8.2 x 8m on agreed planning consent
• Significant change from original
• Lack of explanation, especially in what is the blue area outlined on the map.
• Concerns that planning application submitted under another name, previous history of non-compliance with planning approval

EPC/MINUTES/16/5/23
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13/23 Applications for Development

13/23.1 To examine applications for development and submit observations to the Planning Authority

7/2023/40 Fairfield, Eskdale
Erection of 2 dwellings – outline approval ref 7/2020/407

Resolved to OBJECT to this application and submit the drafted response with minor amendments and request that this application be presented to the Planning Panel and not determined by a single officer. Clerk to request date of Planning meeting and that a member of the Parish Council be able to attend to present objections.

7/2023/4031 Eskdale Mill, Boot
Screening and stabilising a spoil heap used to bury a septic tank and a concrete and brick derelict septic tank. Screened with grey stained timber terraces and drystone walls to match with vernacular local stone walls and nearby timber elements of Eskdale Mill – retrospective

Supported.

13/23.2 To ratify the observations submitted by the Clerk under devolved powers since last meeting.
None.

13/23.3 To note the decisions of the statutory planning authority with regards to recent applications
None.

14/23 Unitary Councillor report
None received.

15/23 FINANCIAL RECORDS

15/23.1 To approve the following payments:

• Zurich Insurance (paid under Financial Standing Orders) £264.00
• V Falconer – Internal Audit fee – £40.00
• CALC – Subscription renewal – £143.99

15/23.2 To note the receipt of payments
None.

15/23.3 To receive and note the bank reconciliation statements dated 30 April 2023
Verified by Cllr Kirkby.

15/23.4 To consider the Budget Comparison Report as at 30 April 2023 and determine action need to address deviations from the budget
None required.

15/23.5 To receive the Internal Auditors Report and recommendations
Resolved – £6k to be transferred from Current to Deposit Account.

15/23.6 To approve the Annual Risk Assessment/Risk Management
Approved.

15/23.7 To approve the Asset Register for 2023
Approved.

15/23.8 To approve the Annual Governance Statement
Approved. Proposed by Cllr Hunt, Seconded by Cllr Shaftesley.

15/23.9 To receive and note the accounts for the year ending 31 March 2023 have been submitted and approved by the internal auditor and that they are a true and correct record.
Approved. Proposed by the Clerk, seconded by Cllr Hunt.

15/23.10 To determine that the Parish Council has met the qualifying criteria to certify them as exempt from a limited assurance review.
Approved. Proposed by the Clerk, Seconded by Cllr Hunt.

16/23 Parish Matters

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16/23.1 Defib – Eskdale Green
Clerk reported that Fred Whitton would not sponsor another defib. Clerk to apply for funding for 2 defibs, 1 for the toilets and 1 for Hard Knott telephone box.

16/23.2 Hard Knott Telephone Box
Volunteers required. Box to be wire brushed in preparation for repairs and painting.

16/23.3 Eskdale Trail
Complaints have been received from members of public re the new signage and inability to read them.

16/23.4 Lengthsman
One application received and to be appointed subject to proof of Public Liability Insurance and signing of Contract. Once signed then will be placed on Facebook page.

16/23.5 Community Plan
All councillors will attend training on 28 June 2023.

16/23.6 Security Lights New Close
Environmental Health Officer now dealing with the complaint.

16/23.7 Co-option of councillors
1 vacancy to be filled.

17/23 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies
Village Hall – Cllr Shaftesley reported that the Village Hall Committee have applied for funding for a feasibility study for the hall.

18/23 Correspondence
To discuss any correspondence received for open discussion

• None

19/23 Councillor Matters

• Cllr Brown reported that he is having problems being registered as a bank signatory for the Council.

Proposed that Cllr R Brown be a bank signatory by Cllr L Hunt and Seconded by Cllr M Shaftesley.
A copy of the minutes to be forwarded to bank as evidence.

20/23 Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Parish Council 11 July 2023 at St Bega’s Village Hall, Eskdale Green.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 2119 hours.